NEWS RELEASES

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

KANSAS STATE STARTS CLASSIC PREPARATIONS AT COWBOYS STADIUM

Photo By: Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

The No. 8 Kansas State Wildcats began their preparations for the 76th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic today with their first practice at Cowboys Stadium. The Cats broke out full pads for a lively practice looking towards their showdown with No. 6 Arkansas.

“I feel very good about this football team and the progress they’ve made,” Head Coach Bill Snyder said. “Our youngsters are pleased, proud and are enjoying the daylights out of themselves.”

Kansas State comes into the Classic after finishing with a surprising 10-2 record and a second place finish in the Big 12 Conference. The Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in the pre-season, but surpassed all expectations on the way to their third Classic appearance.

Before practice, Coach Snyder held a formal Media Day inside Cowboys Stadium. Snyder took the time to reflect on the past season and preview the Wildcats top-ten matchup against the Razorbacks on Friday.

“What really satisfies me more than anything else is whether or not our football program gets better and the young people in our program improve on a regular basis in a variety of different arenas, not just football.” Coach Snyder said.

To commemorate their trip to North Texas, the team took a group photo on the 50-yard line at Cowboys Stadium. Each player also filmed a short introduction for the FOX broadcast crew to be shown during the Classic’s Friday night broadcast.

Tonight the team will attend a special private event at the Main Event in Grapevine to enjoy food, bowling and fun. Tomorrow the Wildcats defensive coordinator Chris Cosh and select players will meet with the media at the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Las Colinas.

The 76th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic will be held on Friday Jan. 6th on FOX. Telecast starts at 7 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7:32 p.m. Gus Johnson will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Tim Brewster and former Dallas Cowboys great Daryl Johnston will serve as sideline reporters.

For the 20th consecutive year, the Classic will be heard around the world through the Westwood One Radio Network. Brad Sham, “The Voice of the Dallas Cowboys”, and former UCLA head coach Terry Donahue will be on the call.